Between Lake Constance and Neusiedlersee, the Small Historical Cities in Austria are waiting to be discovered. These are 17 historic villages whose walls contain traces of the Roman, Turkish and Habsburg presence that reach the contemporary era. The towns are characterized by monuments and historical buildings, but together with the deeply rooted traditions you come across a cheerful desire to live, in cultural events hosted in suggestive environments, in a delicious regional gastronomy and in incomparable hospitality. Four are thematic itineraries recommended:
"On the traces of the Middle Ages" in Tyrol and Vorarlberg visit Feldkirch with Schattenburg Castle, Imst, the city with 14 fountains, Hall which in the Middle Ages was rich and shining thanks to the nearby mines, and Kufstein, characterized by its mighty fortress.
"In vino veritas" revolves around the theme of wine and winds in eastern Austria, between Lower Austria, Burgenland and Styria. Visit Baden bei Wien, a spa and wine town rich in Biedermeier buildings, Rust, the city of storks on the shores of Lake Neusiedler See, Bad Radkersburg immersed in the vineyards of southern Styria and Judenburg, which was one of the most important commercial stations on the route between Venice and Vienna, where among many valuable goods also passed the wine.
"L'oro dei Tauri" connects East Tyrol, Carinthia and Salzburg and leads to Lienz, founded by the ancient Romans, Zell am See in a happy position between the mountain and Lake Zell, Radstadt, whose history is discovered between ancient defensive walls, churches and monasteries, and Spittal an der Drau where you visit the Renaissance Porcia palace.
The itinerary dedicated to "Rinascimento, gotico, baroque" winds entirely in the Upper Austria region. Schärding is characterized by baroque. Also in the square of Wels you can admire beautiful baroque facades, but also Renaissance buildings and cloisters of the 13th century. Steyr is a jewel of ancient urban architecture, rich in historical buildings of every age. Ceramics are the dominant element in Gmunden, and in Bad Ischl the imperial atmosphere is still breathing today, especially at the Kaiservilla, a former summer residence of the Emperor of Austria.
A tip for bikers:
The Austrian Classic Tour connects in 12 daily stages the Small Historical Cities. It is a programmable ring route to enjoy on the most beautiful panoramic streets of the country.
To make a stop there are the hotels equipped especially for those traveling by bike.
To plan your itinerary to discover the Small Historical Cities day by day there are the comfortable vouchers valid in 40 hotels. A voucher, valid for an overnight stay in a 4 star hotel, costs EUR 58,00 per person, EUR 38,00 in category 3 stars.
